Hula As Community - The Cultural Significance of Hawaiian Hula - Free Performance

Join us for a delightful and informative evening of mele (song), oli (chant) and hula (dance).

Hula is so much more than pretty music and movement. It was and continues to be fundamental to the Hawaiian community: to connect, to celebrate, and most importantly to communicate their rich oral history. Prior to western contact, ancient Hawaiians did not have a written language. Their history was chronicled through their chants. These chants were memorized and passed down from generation to generation. Hula tells these stories through dance.

After a brief history of hula, we will celebrate with hula kahiko, ancient hula accompanied by master chanter, Kumu Hula June Kaililani Tanoue, and hula auwana, modern hula with mele (song). We will end with fun audience participation - an opportunity to learn a simple hula!

Kumu Hula June Kaililani Tanoue is the founder and artistic director of Halau I Ka Pono (The School That Cultivates Goodness). HIKP is a program of The Zen Life & Meditation Center of Chicago, non-profit 501(c)(3).